19 Sept 2014

BR's Top Target: LFC to make new offer to sign 'unique' €30m attacker. Threat to Lallana?

Despite the arrival of Lazar Markovic, Liverpool continue to be linked with attacking midfielders, and the latest name to enter the fray is Real Madrid 'golden boy' Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (aka Isco).

According to The Independent today:

* Arsenal and Liverpool are planning to make January offers for the 22-year old attacker.

* Liverpool have dropped their interest in Barca star Pedro to make Isco the club's number one target.

This follows a report over the summer in Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, which claimed:

"The imminent arrival of James Rodriguez at Real Madrid means Isco could be leaving the club, with Milan and Liverpool favorites to sign the midfielder"

Another Spanish daily, AS, further claimed:

"Liverpool, Sevilla and Milan have asked Madrid about the status of Isco"

The Reds have been linked with 'unique' Isco several times in the past, and in 2012, Brendan Rodgers sent senior scout Barry Hunter to watch the attacker during his Champions League debut against Zenit St. Petersburg, a game in which he scored two impressive goals.

Last season, Carlo Ancelotti often played Isco in central midfield, but the signing of Toni Kroos is a clear signal that the Italian wants an upgrade in that area. In a recent interview, Ancelotti also hinted that the 22-year old will have to adapt his position permanently if he wants to play regularly. He told reporters:

"We haven't been able to play him [Isco] in his usual position. I had a similar case [with] Seedorf, who was an attacking central midfielder. With sacrifice, he played in a different position. Isco can do what Seedorf did."

Despite being played out of position, Isco - who cost Madrid €30m last summer - still made 53 appearances for Madrid last season, and grabbed 11 goals/8 assists along the way, which is not too shabby.

There is huge competition for places at the Bernabeau, but is it any different at Liverpool? If Isco comes to Anfield, he'll have to compete against Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho, and Markovic, not to mention Sturridge, who - after the arrival of Balotelli - may occasionally play out wide.

When it comes to direct competition, Isco would be up against Lallana and Coutinho for the number 10 role in the side, and of the three, you'd have to fear for Coutinho's chances of regular game-time, especially given the Brazilian's middling form.

Do Liverpool need Isco? Is he a better option than Lallana and Coutinho in the number 10 role?



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35 comments:

  1. Do we "need" Isco? Not really, but he is definitely an upgrade over what we currently have. If Lallana is converted to a deeper Mid position, say CM instead of AM, Isco+Coutinho for hole options is pretty solid. Sterling and Markovic for wings.

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  2. Honestly, I see this as more of a threat to majorly inconsistent Coutinho... He has shown class in far too few games, and more often than not gets frozen out by the opposition, for me personally, he is going to have to improve drastically to stay.... I know Coutinho is a popular player with most LFC fans, but this is all based on far too few actual quality performances...

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  3. Seriously? You're questioning why we would want a near world class playmaker because we have Coutinho?

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  4. Sterling is a better No.10 than winger, he effects games better, and gets himself on the score sheet, Coutinho is wasteful and selfish, and for the most part, ineffective... Isco is worth 2 Coutinho's... but thats just my opinion...

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  5. Absolutely. James was bought to pander to egos and up shirt sales as flavour of the (WC) month..

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  6. Isco and Cavani would complete our team we could fight on every level in every competition, and no doubt the league would be ours if these 2came and i hate to say it but Coutinho or Lallana couldn`t lick Iscos boots might sound harsh but its true.

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  7. thought we should have bought Isco instead of Markovic, Firmino instead of Lallana. or Pedro Rodriguez. im sure Lallana will improve but we need immediate impacts. over the summer we should have bought Alex Song, Firmino, Isco and Reus or Pedro. we would be challenging. instead now, we can still challenge but now immediately due to geling period. right now we need 2 good energetic midfielders. and if we buy Moussa Sissokho and Morgan Schneiderlin we will be fine. two fantastic players who need to play at higher level despite both playing for the National team. then if we bought Isco as our number 10, i would loan out Markovic and Coutinho to PL clubs to gain experience and get better. then signing Reus and Firmino will compensate them outgoings. and buy Valdes


    ---------------------------------Valdes
    Manquillo----------Skrtel------------Lovren------------Moreno
    -------------------------------Schneiderlin
    --------------Henderson----------------------Sterling
    -----------------------------------Isco
    ---------------------Reus------------------Balotelli

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  8. I've often thought the same about little couts, but when you look at the games he does show up to they are some of the most important(last season: City home and away, Everton and Spurs to name a few). It annoys me when he's wasteful against teams in the bottom half (and I guess that's where we'll miss Suarez as he'd bail us out of those situations last season) but he tends to show up for the bigger games and that, for me, is enough for him to keep his place...barely though

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  9. Isco is quality.If Real Madrid make him available we should break the bank and look to get a deal done.He's the sort of top level creative we should've targeted with some of that 120m in the summer.
    If our transfer budget is low, get rid of some flops.If they refuse to leave or there's no takers, start spending next summers transfer money.
    The players we signed this summer are good.But when you look at the receipt and it totals £120m you'd expect a Isco, Marco Reus or Pedro to be on that shopping list.

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  10. You're on the right track.

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  11. FSG won't break any bank,that's for sure.As I've stated before,holding on to Harrods vouchers yet insistent on shopping at Lidl.

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  12. I was speaking strictly number-wise...I should've made myself more clear. I mean we have more than enough AMs, but Isco is definitely the preferred option...

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  13. FSG opened the cheque book.It's Brendan Rodgers and the transfer committee that buys players.We need to aim higher in the transfer market and if we can't get our top targets.Don't panic and pay level A prices for category B players.

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  14. I don't think we've paid category A prices for category B players. Moreno and Balotelli were very reasonably priced

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  15. We're also interested in Hamsik. If it does eventuate, expect a few players heading over there to sweeten the deal. My bets would be Lucas and Johnson.

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  16. Do you think 25m on Adam Lallana represents good value for money when Fabregas was bought for 30? We went for Alexis Sanchez lost out to Arsenal then paid 20m on Lazar Markovic.Do you think he's category A?

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  17. Let's be real 20 million is not category A money. We tried for Sanchez, he wanted to live in London. I suspect Fabregas wanted the same thing having lived there before. I doubt we ever had a chance of signing of him.
    Anyway Lallana and Markovic may prove to be vital players for us. It's a little early in both their seasons and their Liverpool careers to be writing them off as a waste of money

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  18. Luis Suarez was signed for about 20m.Man City got Silva for around that price too.Not every top class player is bought for bank busting prices.£20m is a lot of money don't be fooled by stupid clubs like Man Utd.
    We don't know what Fabregas wanted because Liverpool never made him a offer.That wasn't the question i put to you though.I said do you think Adam Lallana is value for money.
    I give my views on whether a deal is overpriced or good value when we sign them based on what they've done at previous clubs.A bit like how you rightfully came to the conclusion Mario Balotelli and Moreno were reasonably priced.I don't factor in paying high and calling it good business hoping players will match their inflated price tags.

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  19. No we wouldn't that team has too many imbalances, the defence is still bad and Sterling in central midfield that is Tim Sherwood esque management

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  20. We have more than enough attacking options right now. Next season we have Origi at the club too. Lallana just needs to find his feet and Markovic has been adept when he has featured.


    Our squad is much more equipped to cope with injuries etc now but adding Isco or more attacking players in January would make no sense. I would rather spend the money by getting backup for the RB and LB or sign another deeplying CM as Lucas is past it and this will be Gerrard's last season of regular first team football meaning we only have Can to play ahead of our defence.

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  21. We may have more than enough options, but ultimately, continuously IMPROVING our options is only a good thing. Look at how City have become successful, they've just kept on progressively improving their options even while they had enough depth. As long as we prioritise those other positions you mention first, it won't hurt to get Isco or another player in his mould.

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  22. I am a big fan of Isco since watching him play for Spain u/19s Lallana is not in the same class as this guy and never will be.

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  23. I would rather see what the plan is for João Carlos Teixeira. Hyppia is having many good things to say about him. Some like to rave about Suso, I would rather keep Teixeira.


    Signing Isco in January IMO would be pointless.

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  24. If Coutinho keeps on playing shit then it's not pointless. There is something fishy about Suso though...

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  25. I think ISCO vs Coutinho

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  26. Yeah and then go and spend £30m plus on Isco and he might not work out. Coutinho just needs to get a grip. He has not forgotten how to play football.

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  27. Everything is a risk. Just like relying on Coutinho to sort himself out.

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  28. definitely better than coutinho and lallana.

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  29. There is less risk involved with sticking with Coutinho than being held ransom by Madrid for Isco who is could fail at LFC. Madrid will not let him go on the cheap.


    Think most have gone over their heads with Coutinho.

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  30. Coutinho has been inconsistent for over a year. Isco proved himself at Madrid. I'd have more faith in a proven performer at a club like Madrid than a player like Coutinho who despite his talent hasn't been able to string a few great games together in a long time.

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  31. Lallana may prove to be value for money, what I'm saying is you can't say he's not this early into his Liverpool career. Plus he's English so the price tag is always gonna be inflated

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  32. My last comment on the topic: Okay so nobody can say Adam Lallana wasn't good value for money at the time of purchase.But it's fine to state Moreno and Mario Balotelli are.Your right about signing established English players.They come with a extortionate tax add on.Nobody forced us to go him though.There where better options available for the money spent.Which is the core of my argument.

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  33. no thanks...pass..

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  34. Stevie wonder can see that 12 mil for Moreno was good value

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